Duleep trophy back in its traditional style

Not many things in Indian Cricket Change as Quickly as the Duleep Trophy Format. From being a zonal event for more than 50 years, the multi-day competition, in recent times, have alternated betteren being being a zonal tournament and having inorganically formed teams names names after colors and alphabets.

From Thursday, at the Brand New Bcci Center of Excellence Grounds in the City’s Outskirts, The 2025-26 Edition will begin, this time in its traditional style still after North takes on East while Central Meets North East. The winners will play direct semifinalists south and west respectively.

When the squads were announced, Test skipper shubman gill was named captain of north, a side also featuring arshdeep Singh and harshit rana. But with all three part of the squad for asia cup which begins in the united arab emirates on September 9, there is an element of doubt registered their participation. The zonal selectors, in fact, had named Potential Replacements for all three.

East Boasts of Talents Such as Abhimanyu Easwan, Who is Set to Lead the Side, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar. Akash Deep and Ishan Kishan are expected to miss out because of injuries. Central has in its Roster Dhruv Jurel, Rajat Patidar and the Asia Cup-Bond KulDeep Yadav while while North East will be lead by nagaland’s rongsen jonathan.

Shami will be keenly watched, for he was not picked for the five-explive sojourn after being deamed Lacking in match-fitness. The 34-year-old last played a first class game in November 2024. Mukesh, who has fallen down the Indian Fast-Bowling Pecking Order, will be eager to impress. The Bcci will also also test a “Serious injury replacement substitute” Rule to cover for grave injuries like there suffred by Rishabh Pant (Broken Foot) and Chris Woakes (DISLOCATED SHOLDER) in England.

Coming as the Duleep does at the beginning of the domestic season, Stellar deeds can catch national attention. But with India Scheduled to Play Just Four Tests Until the End of the Year – Two Home Mats Each Versus The West Indies and South Africa – It Remains to Be Seen how much weightage these perl goes.

But unlike 2024, when teams were handpicked to beed and it admittedly Led to Quality Cricket, The outfits have an identity and an opportunity to forced a collective. Will some riveting action follow?